Reverse flow adapter for wells



Feb. 26, 1952 K. KELLEY REVERSE FLow ADAPTER FoR WELLS Filed May l5. 1950 z Vla Aurisina All! /loR/f AEL L E Y INVENTOR.

A 7' TORNE V Patented Feb. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for separating gases from liquids and more particularly to such devices for separating oil from a mixture of oil and gas in a well.

In many oil producing wells the oil from an oil bearing formation which enters into the pocket or shot hole in which is located the intake pipe leading to a pump is not in the form of a liquid but in the form of a foam composed of oil and gas. The pump which is employed to lift the oil to the surface of the earth, however, cannot function properly if air is permitted to enter the pump during the period of its operation. This malfunctioning of the liquid pump is commonly known as an air lock or gas lock. Moreover, if a mixture of gas and oil is discharged by the pump into the tubing string which conducts the oil to the surface, the gas in the mixture causes a turbulence or agitation in the oil in the tubing string which results in the deposition of wax on the walls of the tubing string and also on the rod string that operates the pump. These deposits constrict the operative aperture through which the oil may flow and impede the flow of the oil to the surface.

Gas and liquid separators, commonly called gas anchors or bottom hole separators, are

widely employed in such oil wells to separatethe gas from the oil before-the oil enters the intake pipe of the pump. These devices commonly employ several pipes of various lengths so disposed relative to each other as to create a liquid seal between the pump intake pipe and the source of the gas and oil mixture. In actual operation it is found that the foamy oil and gas mixture does not readily enter these devices. In some wells the foam of oil and gas will flow past these gas anchors or bottom hole separators and up the oil well casing to a height of more than three thousand feet. Applicant has discovered that in order to provide an optimum ow of oil to the surface and to provide eiiicient operation of the pump, the flow of the foamy gas and oil mixture up the well casing must be prevented.

Accordingly it is an object of applicants invention to provide a new and improved gas and liquid separator.

It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved gas and oil separator having a washer preventing the flow of oil and gas mixture up the well casing.

- It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved gas and oil separator having a washer for reversing the ow of an oil and gas mixture up the well casing.

2 It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved adapter for use with l'gas and oil separators to prevent the flow of .the gas and oil mixture up the well casing.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a new and improved adapter for use with gas and oil separators to reverse the upward flow of the gas and oil mixture in a well casing. I

Briefly stated, the new and improved gas and liquid separator comprises an adapter provided with a washer or a plurality of washers secured to a portion of the gas anchor or bottom hole separator at a predetermined point above the intake of the gas anchor or bottom hole separator. The washer or washers contact the inner surface of the well casing and form an air and liquid tight seal so that the foamy gas and oil mixture cannot ascend the well casing past the predetermined point. The lmixture reverses its direction of flow at the predetermined point and then flows downwardly to enter the intake of the gas anchor or bottom hole separator. Also provided is a new and improved gas anchor especially adapted to be employed with the direction changing washers which includes a separator head secured to a cylindrical vent stack. The separator head is provided With a plurality of apertures spaced about the vent stack. The mixture of gas and oil flows downwardly, after its direction of flow is reversed by the washers, through the apertures of the separator head into the main chamber of the gas anchor. A pipe connected to theintake of a pump extends downwardly through the vent stack and into the main chamber. Since the end of the pipe is lowei than the end of the vent stack, the body of oil in the main chamber makes a liquid seal between the intake of the pump and the source of the gas and oil mixture. In passing through the apertures of the separator head, the flow of the mixture of gas and oil is retarded which allows the oil to drop out of the mixture and collect in the main chamber.

The separation of the oil from the gas is further aided by the contact of the mixture with the bo'dy of liquid oil in the main chamber, the oil in the mixture entering into the body of liquid oil upon contact with it. The separated gas rises through the vent stack and is discharged into the well casing above the washer or washers. The oil which collects on top of the washer helps seal the cylindrical space between the well casing and the gas anchor. The washer or washers are preferably made of exible material so that if an excess amount of oil collects on top of the washer or washers, the washer or washers will give, dumping the oil which will then again enter the gas anchor. l

For a better und-erstanding of the invention reference may be had to the following specication taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, Y

Figure `l is a vertical View of a lower portion of a well equipped with a gas and liquid separator embodying the features of the invention, some parts being shown in section;

Figure 2 is an enlarged partly sectional View of a portion of the apparatus shown in 'Figure l;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure l. i

Referring now to the drawing, the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated .as applied to a gas anchor I disposed in the pocket or shot hole I I in a formation |"2 Yfrom which a mixy on shell 2| and then immobilized by screwing ture of gas Aand oil -flows into the pocket II. The i gas anchor I0 comprises an outer shell I3 having a-lower vclosed end I4 provided with a spacing member I5 which rests on the bottom of the pocket II. The upper, open end of shell I3 is secured to the lower'end of a separator head I6 by'means of exterior threads on -head IB which engage the interior threads on shell I3. Sepa- `-rator head I6 -is hollow and is secured to a cylindrical vent vstack I1 which passes through head I6. Head I6 may be secured to vent stack I1 by a weld IBG, or by any other conventional means, e. fg., by exterior threads on stack I1 and interior threadson head I6.

Extending through Vvent stack I1 is an inner shell I8 whose lower open end I9 is .provided with i:

a collar I9a and is disposed near bottom I4 of shell 'I3 and whose upper end is provided with exterior threads which engage the interior threadsprovided in the intermediate portion I9 'of a heador coupling 20. The upper end of vent stack I1 is secured to a cylindrical 'shell 2| by means of an internally threaded coupling or collar 22 which engages the exteriorly threaded upper and lower ends of vent stack I1 and `shell 2|,

respectively. The upper'end of shell 2| is exteriorly threaded and engages the interiorly threaded lower end of coupling l253. It will be apparent Vthat vent stack |`1 and shell 2| incombination constitute a cylindrical Yshell through which the separated .gas vmay fpass. vent stack I1 and shell 2| could be formed of Va single pipe or shell. The lower end of coupling 20 is `provided with a plurality of openings 23 while the upper end is provided with interior If desired, l

threads 24 by means of which-coupling 20 may be rattached to the intake pipe, not shown, of a conventional oil pump employed in oil wells. Sepaf rater head I6 is also provided with a plurality of circularly arranged apertures 25.

Gas anchor Ill and its associated structures :are centrally disposed in the well casing 26 whose lower end is .provided with a collar 21 which is set adjacent pocket above the formation I2. In order toprevent the mixture of gas and oil from formation I2=from risingrin the cylindrical vvspace 28 between vent stack I1 and'well casing 26 and in the cylindrical space 28a between cylin- Vdrical shell 2| "and well casing 26, Vthere Vis provided a plurality of washers 29, 30 and '3|,' which -aremaintained in spaced relation o'n cylindrical 'shell 2| by spacing collars 32, 33 and 34. The

collarl 22 on shell 2|. 'Washers 29, 30 and 3| are :preferably formed of -astrong llexible material such as "one "inch thick 'fur 'orve ply rubber belting, so that the washers will bend in one direction when the device is being lowered into moval, the `ilexibility of washers 29, 30 and 3| allows the oil which accumulates above them in cylindrical space 28a to bend washers 29, 39 and 3| and fall into cylindrical space 28 in the event that an iexcess amount of A'oil accumulates in space128a.

When the' oil is being pumped rfrom the 4pocket II, the mixture of oil and gas from formation .I2 flows into pocket II and then moves upwardly in the cylindrical space 2B Vuntil it reaches the 'lowermost washer 29. 'Washer 29 reverses the direction of flow of the mixture as is shown by the arrows in Figure 2 in which the direction of flow of oil `is indicated by solid arrows and the direction or" flow Aof gas by arrows having 'shafts broken in many places. The mixture is then drawn through the apertures 25 in separator head I6. In passing through apertures I6, 'most of the oil isseparated from the gas and falls into the chamber 31 formed by shell I3. The'remainder of the mixture contacts the accumulationof oil in chamber 31. The contact with the oil lwithdraws vthe oil from the mixture allowing the separated gas to flow upwardly through the ycylindrical space 33 fbetween ventstack I1 and shell I8 and the cylindrical Ispace SSa'betWeen-shell I8 and shell 2| to the =coupling 20 where it passes through the apertures y23 into the Well casing v23 above the top washer 3L Any droplets `of oil carried up through apertures 23 will fall and collect on washers\3'|,-30 and 29. This accumulated oil aids washers 3|., 30 and 29 in sealing cylindrical space 28 from cylindrical space 28a.

In theevent that Ian excess amount of oil collects shown), which is vrengagc'edloy the rthreads '24 of coupling "20, vandthe pocket "I The oilris' drawn by the oil well pump upwardly through inner-shell I8 and toithesurfacethrough'a tubmgstringlconnected to itheoutlet 'ofthe pump.

Since the eiTect of the Washers 29, f3-il and 3| n'reversin'gtheflo'w of the igasland'foil mixture and the rod stringwillbeminimized.

"i It will be noted that a plurality of washers 29,4

30 and 3| has been provided in order to have a very good seal between spaces 28 and 28a. If desired, however, only one washer could be employed. It has been found that in order to obtain optimum results, washer 29 should be located about ten inches above the top of separator head I6.

While there has been shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention, and it is therefore aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What applicant claims as new and desires to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A gas-liquid separating device for wells, comprising in combination, an uprightl well casing having an open lower end communicating with a pocket in an oil bearing formation, an outer shell adapted to be disposed in said pocket and having a lower closed end and an upper open end communicatingwith said pocket and said lower end of said well casing; an outer cylindrical shell having its open lower end disposed within said outer shell; means connecting said outer cylndrical shell to said outer shell, said outer shell being of greater diameter than said outer cylindrical shell and spaced therefrom; an inner cylindrical shell disposed in said outer cylindrical shell and having its open lower end disposed in said outer shell below said lower end of said outer cylindrical shell, said inner cylindrical shell being spaced from said outer cylindrical shell to provide a cylindrical gas passage, said outer and inner shells extending upwardly through said well casing, said outer cylindrical shell and said well casing being spaced from one another to provide a cylindrical space; and a iiexible sealing member secured to said outer cylindrical shell disposed above said upper open end of said cuter shell, said sealing member sealing said cylindrical space, said inner cylindrical shell being adapted to conductl oil from said outer shell member, said gas passage being adapted to conduct gas from said outer shell, said exible sealing member nexing downwardly to allow accumulations of liquid on said sealing member to descend past said s-ealing members when said accumulations exceed a predetermined volume.

2. A gas-liquid separating device for wells, comprising in combination, an upright well casing having an open lower end communicating with a pocket in an oil bearing formation, an outer shell adapted to be disposed in said pocket and having a lower closed end and an open upper end communieating with said pocket and said open lower end of said casing; an outer cylindrical shell having its open lower end disposed within said outer shell; means connecting said outer shell to said outer cylindrical shell, said outer shell being of greater diameter'than said outer cylindrical .shell and spaced therefrom; an inner cylindrical shell disposed in said outer cylindrical shell and having its open lower end disposed in said outer shell below said lower end of said outer cylindrical shell, said outer and inner cylindrical shells extending upwardly through said well casing, said inner cylindrical shell being spaced from said outer cylindrical shell to provide a cylindrical gas passage, said outer cylindrical shell and said well casing being spaced from one another to provide a cylindrical space; and a plurality of vertically spaced exible washers disposed above said upper open end of said outer shell, said washers sealing said .cylindrical space, said cylindrical gas passage communicationg with said cylindrical space above said washers.

3. A gas-liquid separating device for wells, comprising in combination, an upright well casing having an open lower end communicating with a pocket in an oil bearing formation, an outer shell adapted to be disposed in said pocket and having a lower closed end and an open upper end, said outer shell forming an oil collecting chamber; a separator head on said open upper end provided with a central opening and a plurality of apertures concentrically arranged about said central opening, said apertures communicating with,said pocket, said well casing and said oil collecting chamber; an outer cylindrical shell extending'through said well casing and said central opening into said chamber, said outer cylindrical shell having its lower open end within said chamber; an inner cylindrical shell in said outer cylindrical shell and having its open lower end in said chamber below said open lower end of said outer cylindrical shell, said inner shell being spaced from said outer shell to provide a cylindrical gas passage, said outer cylindrical shell and said well casing being spaced from one another to provide a cylindrical space; and a washer vertically spaced above said separator head, said washer sealing said cylindrical space.

4. An oil and gas separator for use with a well, comprising in combination, an upright well cas- 'ing having an open lower end communicating with a pocket in an oil bearing formation, an outer shell adaptedito be disposed in said pocket and having an open upper end and a lower closed end, said outer shell forming an oil collecting chamber; a separator head on said open upper end provided with a central opening and a plurality of apertures concentrically arranged about said central opening, said apertures communicating with said pocket, said well casing and said oil collecting chamber; an outer cylindrical shell eX- tending through said well casing and said central opening into said chamber; said cylindrical shell having its lower open end within said chamber; an inner cylindrical shell in said outer cylindrical shell and having its open lower end in said chamber below said open lower end of said outer cylindrical shell, said inner shell being spaced from said outer cylindrical shell to provide a cylindrical'gas passage, said outer cylindrical shell and said well casing being spaced from one another to provide a cylindrical space; and a plurality of vertically spaced washers disposed above said separator head, said washers sealing said cylindrical space.

5. A gas-liquid separating device for wells, comprising in combination, an upright well casingin an oil well adjacent a source of oil, a lower member providing an oil collecting chamber in communication with said source, a pair of spaced telescoped cylindrical shells extending through said well and having lower ends terminating in said chamber, said shells having open lower ends, the lower end of the outer of said pair of shells being disposed above the lower end of the inner of said pair of shells; means connecting said outer shell to said lower member; said lower member being of greater diameter than said outer shell and spaced therefrom; said inner shell having an upper end adapted to be connected to a liquid acarrear memberf for.. closing. saldi cylindrical space aboveV said collectingchambensaid sealinggmember. hex:-

ing.: downward-1y to allow accumulations of. oil. on.

prising in combination, arruprightiwellcasingiirr anoilwelli adjacent a source of oil, said; separat-- ingl device co-mprisingalower member providing;

anoil collecting chamber having an .upperend incommunication with. said source, a. pair of spaced. telescoped cylindrical. shells extending through said well and. having. lower. ends: terminating`- in said chamber, said shells-having opelowergends, the. lower endof. the onterrof saidopair. ofshells beingf disposedabove ther lower end of. theI inner of said pair of shells; means connecting said lower membento said outer shell, said lowery member being of greater diameter than said. outer shell andi spaced therefrom; said inner shellv having anupper end adapted to be connected to aliquid pump, said outer shell and said well casing forming'a; cylindrical space; and a. sealing member for closing said. cylindrical space above said collecting chamber, said pair of shells forming a cylindrical gas passage, said gas passage com municating'with said cylindrical space above said sealing means.

7.. A gas-liquid separating device for wells, comprising in combination,. an upright" well casing having an open lower end'communicatingv with a pocket in an oil bearing formation, an outer 4 shell adapted tobe disposed in said pocket and having a lower closed end and an upper open end communicating with said pocket and said l.

lower. end of` saidwell casing; an outer cylindrical shell having its open lower end disposed within said tubular member, means connectingy said outer shell to said outer cylindrical shell; an

inner cylindrical shell disposed in said cuter cy l lindrical shell and having its open lower end disposed in said outer shell below said lower end of said outer cylindrical shell, said inner cylindricalshell being spaced from said outer cylindrical shell to provide a cylindrical` gas passage, said 1 outer Iand inner cylindrical shells extending Lip-- wardly through said well casing, said outer cy lindrical shell and saidwell casing being spaced from one anotherto provide acylindrical space;

and asealing member secured to saidvouter. cylindrical shell disposed above said upper open end of said outer shell, said sealing member. sealing. said cylindrical space, said inner cylindrical shell being adapted to conduct` oil fromv said outer shell, said gas passage. being adapted to.;conduct. gas. from saidtubular member,`said outer shell being', provided. with. means connectingl said, gas

passage with said cylindrical space above said washer.

8. An oil and gas; separator. forwells, compris- 60 ing in combination with an upright wellcasing having` an open lower end communicating with a pocket in an oil bearing formation, an. outer 8x J shell adapted. tobe disposed. said. pocketv and having av lower. closed: end; .said..outer;shell lformf' ing an. oil` collecting: chamberz. a' separator; head on said openi upper: end-.providedgwith-.a central. 1 opening and; ae pluralityfof; apertures concentri-` cally arranged about` said; central; opening., said,

apertures" communicating with saidepockfet, said well casing and said oil collecting chamber; arr outer cylindrical shell extending. through said .Well casing and .said central, opening. intoA saidV cham. ber, said; outer cylindrical shell havingv its.` lower openend within' saidf chamber;` an inner cylindrical. shell in said` outerV cylindrical shell; and.

having its; open lower endin said chamber below 'said' open lowerend orsaid outercylindrical,shell,I said inner shell being. spaced'fromsaid.;outer shell to provide a cylindrical. gas. passage,- said outer cylindrical shell andV said welly casing being.

spacedfrom oneanother to-provide a cylindrical space; and a sealing memberverticallyl spaced above said separator. head, said-sealing member sealing said cylindrical space;-

9; A gas-liquid separating-device-for wells,.com prising in combination, Ian uprightwell casinghaving an openlower end communicating with.

a pocket in an oilbearing formation, anA outer shell adapted to be disposed in'said pocket and having a lower-closed end, said outer shell forming an oil collecting chamber; arseparator head` on said open upper end provided with a centralv opening and a plurality ofr apertures concentrically arranged about said centralopening, said apertures communicating with said pocket, said well casing and said oilfcollecting chamber.; an.

outer cylindrical. shell extending through `said well casing and said central opening into. said chamber, said outer cylindrical shell. having its lower open end within said chamber; an inner cylindrical'V shell in said outer. cylindricalshell and having itsopen lower end in said chamber below said open lower end of said outer cylindrical shell, said inner shell being spaced from said outer shell to provide a cylindrical gasfpassage, said outer cylindrical shell andsaid. Well casing being spaced from one another toprovide a cylindrical space; anda flexible washer' vertically spaced above said separator head, said exible washern sealing said cylindrical space, said washer flexing4 downwardly to allow accumula--v tions of liquid to descend. past saidwasherwhen the weight. of said accumulations exceeda pre-- determined limit.

KOR/K vKELLEY.

REFERENCES' CITED The` lfollowingv references x arel of'v record L in; the` flleof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTSV Seago li." Dec. 20, 19'49A 

